Singing for Bob: Tales and Testimonials

Education via Bob began for me in the '70s when Bob
was conducting the Washington Opera Chorus and we
did productions of “The Return of Ulysses,”
“Manon,””The Rake’s Progress” and was it “Traviata?” At
any rate even though my memory may be inadequate, I
learned that Bob was a conductor with whom I could
learn valuable lessons. This was in the day when children
were still at home and getting to rehearsals with small
children at home was not easy. Time passed and I sang
with other choruses including Choral Arts, the McLean
Chorus, and the Arlington Chorus and then I wanted to
get back to where I could become a better musician so
I auditioned for Bob. Thanks to you Bob, I now can
claim 7 choir tours of Spain 1994, England and France
1996, Hungary, Austria, and Czech in 1998, and the list
continues. I think at last count with Bob I have been
able to sing in 10 European countries and have with him
sung in Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Strathmore and
of course the Kennedy Center. It has been an
education from a very fine teacher and I treasure all
of these experiences. I even sang Alto when I joined
the choir one year when I was living in Germany and I
met the choir at Frankfurt airport and continued
traveling with them through marvelous locations including
Ottobeuren, Germany and St. Stephens in Vienna.
Thanks, Bob, I have learned a lot from you and you
have enriched my musical life in ways that I could
never have imagined. Happy 75th.
~ Glenda Finley